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Restore Americas Estuaries

EIN 54-1965304 · Washington, DC

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RESTORE AMERICA'S ESTUARIES IS DEDICATED TO THE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION OF BAYS AND ESTUARIES AS ESSENTIAL RESOURCES FOR OUR NATION.

Income
$8.1 million
Spending
$7.9 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
1.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 81%
Employees
15
Volunteers
10
Highest pay
$242,819, sr dir of rest & admin

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 1.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    5 of 20

    It owes 63% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 93% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 60% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    10 of 10 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $2.8 million spent. SOUTHEAST NEW ENGLAND PROGRAM WATERSHED GRANTS: RAE PARTNERS WITH THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO MANAGE A REGIONAL GRANTS PROGRAM THAT FUNDS PROJECTS TO RESTORE CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS FROM CAPE COD, MA TO WESTERLY, RI. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM RAE HAS AWARDED MORE THAN $10.3 MILLION TO STATE AGENCIES, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, MUNICIPALITIES, UNIVERSITIES, AND REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSIONS. THIS FUNDING HAS SUPPORTED A DIVERSE RANGE OF PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE REGION, INCLUDING A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER IN TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS. RAE ENTERED INTO AN ADDITIONAL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IN 2021 TO EXTEND THE WORK IN THE SAME GEOGRAPHICAL REGION FOR 5 MORE YEARS.
  2. $1.8 million spent. COMMUNITY-BASED COASTAL HABITAT RESTORATION:RESTORE AMERICA'S ESTUARIES (RAE) AND ITS ALLIANCE MEMBERS HAVE WORKED SINCE 1996 TO RESTORE OUR NATION'S CRITICAL COASTAL AREAS AND BRING THEM BACK TO LIFE. THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY BASED RESTORATION PROGRAM, RAE PARTNERS WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CORPORATIONS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS, SCIENTISTS, AND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS ON RESTORATION PROJECTS WITH TANGIBLE IMPACTS. AMONG OUR GOALS ARE THE RETURN OF ABUNDANT FISHERIES, STRONG LOCAL ECONOMIES, AND SHORELINES THAT ARE RESILIENT TO STORMS AND FLOODING. THROUGH THESE EFFORTS RAEHAS SUPPORTED HUNDREDS OF LOCAL RESTORATION PROJECTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, ACHIEVING MEANINGFUL ENVIRONMENTAL RESULTS, AND ENGAGING MEMBERS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN THE PROTECTION OF THEIR NATURAL RESOURCES.
  3. $1.8 million spent. NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM GRANT PROGRAM:RESTORE AMERICA'S ESTUARIES, UNDER A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, ADMINISTERS TWO GRANT PROGRAMS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE THE NATURAL RESOURCES WITHIN DESIGNATED NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM AREAS. THESE GRANT PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING CONGRESSIONALLY-SET PRIORITIES: - LOSS OF KEY HABITATS RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ON FISHERIES AND WATER QUALITY SUCH AS SEAGRASS, MANGROVES, TIDAL AND FRESHWATER WETLANDS, FORESTED WETLANDS, KELP BEDS, SHELLFISH BEDS, AND CORAL REEFS; RECURRING HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOMS; UNUSUAL OR UNEXPLAINED MARINE MAMMAL MORTALITIES; - PROLIFERATION OR INVASION OF SPECIES THAT LIMIT RECREATIONAL USES, THREATEN WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, OR CAUSE OTHER ECOSYSTEM DAMAGE; FLOODING AND COASTAL EROSION

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since June 2000.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.